Popular Stories

Local Real Estate

Cars For Sale

IT appears the final obstacle in the path of Westlink Pty Ltd to build a power station near Gatton has been quashed after the Planning and Environment Court ruled in favour of the development for the second time.

Westlink originally applied for a development approval to build a 100 megawatt, gas-fired power station, to be located on Fords Rd, Adare, in September 2009, setting off a chain of events which saw the Planning and Environment Court of Queensland originally rule in favour of Westlink and the Lockyer Valley Regional Council (LVRC) take the matter to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court set aside the first court judgement and ordered the Planning and Environment Court review the case again.

However, late last month, the court again ruled in favour of Westlink building the power station.

According to court documents, the plan would benefit the community, helping meet the demands for electricity in the region and helping avoid power outages.

The court also found the placement for the power station to be ideal according to the ruling, however the project remains in limbo.

Mayor Steve Jones said the ruling would mean council might have to consider its position on whether to continue legal action.

"At the end of the day it will be all about how much more it will cost council to pursue the matter and whether the community supports that stance," Cr Jones said.

Member for Lockyer Ian Rickuss has bought into the debate and said he wondered about the need for another peak load power station to be built in Queensland.

Long time opponent of the power station and Chairman of the Keep Lockyer Rural Inc group Chris Hall said he was disappointed with the ruling.